Liverpool FC promotes Sunnyvale teen Marc Pelosi for Europa League

Liverpool FC has promoted Sunnyvale teenager Marc Pelosi to its A team for Europa League competition.

The promising Bay Area midfielder will join the Reds' main squad when Liverpool travels to Russia's Zenit St. Petersburg in the round of 32 next week. Pelosi, 18, was one of three players Liverpool picked from its under-21 team.

Pelosi has enjoyed a successful season in his second year with the famed English Premier League club. The former De Anza Force player shined in the under-19 Next Generation Series, a youth tournament for top European teams.

Because of the timing Pelosi won't join the U.S. under-20 team in Mexico next week for CONCACAF qualifying for the World Cup. Liverpool didn't release the player for a national team assignment.

U.S. coach Tab Ramos, however, suggested Friday there still is a chance to get Pelosi.

"At this point, I wouldn't want to say that that's a closed door, but it's something that we may work on that at the end of the day, may not make any sense for Marc," Ramos said on a conference call with reporters. "We'll keep working on it for the next couple of days, and we're happy with his development. We feel that Marc is going to be an important player for the national team."